The Life and Travels of a 20th Century Engineer

by Brian Gregson with Bethany Askew

This is the biography of Brian Cameron Gregson, a self-starter who became a sought-after designer and engineer, a man who used his success at work to finance his love of travel, a man who saw many changes in his life, from a childhood in the blitz in London, to an apprenticeship in the railway, followed by National Service, and finally a profession in engineering and design.

In a time when it was easy to obtain gainful employment, Brian moved easily from one workplace to another, gathering experience wherever he went, in demand by such companies as Ford, Dodge Trucks and General Motors in the U.S.

This book with its lively descriptions of life in the stream locomotive repair workshops and anecdotes about National Service, evokes by-gone era, a time before the threat of terrorism, when you could emigrate to Commonwealth countries without even the promise of employment when you arrived, or set off alone in a car and travel the world.

It was an interesting life, one worth recording, and so in his own words, as narrated to his cousin Bethany Askew, Brian passes on his life story to us.

I loved the two other books by this author and was thrilled to see she had written a new one!

This is her best yet! Although I don’t know Lyme Regis that well I really felt like I was living there with Peter and Emily.

I am too young to really appreciate the difficulties they were having in their marriage but older friends of mine have told me that retirement is a hard time, especially for men.

Poppy is an interesting character and I like the way you never know exactly what is going on in her mind.

I loved it and highly recommend it to anyone who likes books about relationships.

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it!
By Susan Price on 14 Feb. 2017

I really loved this book. Bethany's writing style draws you in to the story so quickly and her description of every day domestic life and relationships is so real, a great read.

5.0 out of 5 stars... little slow to begin with - I was as bored by their retirement as Emily and Peter were - ...
By Rah Cattell on 18 Feb. 2017

A little slow to begin with - I was as bored by their retirement as Emily and Peter were - but this is a device and it soon speeds up . I really enjoyed the plotline, characters, locations and prose. Bethany writes very naturally with a really good instinct for conversation, character and sex scenes ! The characters have stayed with me and there were some moments that were so viscerally described they created deep impressions. Well done Bethany - I am looking forward to your next one!

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read
By A M Way on 8 Mar. 2017

I really enjoyed this book. The characters are really believable and the story quite riveting as it unfolds. Couldn't put it down!

5.0 out of 5 stars I loved this book
By Tracy Auton on 10 Jun. 2017

I loved this book. Slightly different to the sort of book I normally would choose to read but very well written and entertaining. I found Peter extremely irritating, how Emily can tolerate his bad moods. This is a well written book about relationships, the ups and downs, and how selfish and thoughtless a person like Poppy can be, with the lack of consideration for another person's emotional feelings or attachment. I was sorry when the book ended.

Bethany Askew

The Time Before, The World Within, Out of Step, Counting the Days and Poppy’s Seed.

She has also written a short story, The Night of the Storm, and she writes poetry.

Future projects include a new short story, this one for the young adult market, and another full-length novel.

In her spare time she enjoys reading, music, theatre, walking, Pilates, dancing and voluntary work.

Bethany is married and lives in Somerset.

Buy as a printed book

£3.99

Also by Brian Gregson with Bethany Askew / Related Books

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The Life and Travels of a 20th Century Engineer

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